As always, we spend Monday lunchtimes in the classroom, considering and discussing what us Fantasy managers can learn from the Gameweek events. For the next hour or so, let’s consider the captain credentials of Luis Suarez, our failing midfields and how we can work puns into some analysis of Joe Hart’s form without alluding to a “dodgy ticker”…
It’s that little bit harder to ignore Suarez…
Yes, Daniel Strurridge scored. Yes, so did Olivier Giroud and Wayne Rooney, even the Van Persie fella notched again. Even so, as a beaming Luis Suarez ran from the pitch gleefully clutching the match ball after a first Anfield hat-trick, thousands of Fantasy managers would have been pondering the Uruguayan’s potential “essential” status. While David Moyes struggles to unshackle Van Persie, has Suarez now emerged as the most reliable captain candidate week-to-week? Six goals and two assists have seen him return in every outing since his return to the Liverpool lineup. If you backed him each time with the armband, you’d be grinning and winning this morning. How long can we really do without his brand of brilliance? Suarez needs to do something crazy to reassure this non-owner – maybe draw a blank or lunch on Jack Wilshere’s tattooed forearm at the Emirates next week.
The midfield is a minefield…
While it’s a little too easy predicting points up front and at the back, the midfield has become a major sticking point for Fantasy managers. Aaron Ramsey has been reliable enough and his assist at Palace on Saturday saw him return for the fifth time in his last six outings. All good. However, consider that Ramsey and Hatem Ben Arfa were the only midfielders with more than 10% ownership to deliver any points in the Gameweek. Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle and Everton’s unfashionable Leon Osman were the only goalscorers from the middle of the park and they boast a 2% Fantasy Premier League ownership between them. Not a single midfielder over 9.0 delivered returns other than a clean sheet.
Ross Barkley’s star is waning…
Hooked off on the hour mark in Everton’s 2-0 win at Villa, the 18-year-old had to watch on while the experience of Osman unlocked the home rearguard and handed the points to the Toffees. Suddenly the doubters are circling. Barkley’s potential is without question but, with competition for places in the Everton midfield now ramping up, Barkley is being spared pitch time and it might not be long before his owners begin to feel twitchy on his security of starts.
A fading Nani is no match for the new brand of Januzaj magic…
Booed from the Old Trafford pitch as he trudged off to be replaced by Adnan Januzaj on 58 minutes, the transition from old to new couldn’t have been more stark. Ironically, both players signed five-year deals at the club in recent weeks and, while Moyes is clearly looking to give Nani the opportunity to justify that faith, he did little to convince against Stoke. Januzaj on the other hand, immediately lifted the home crowd and injected urgency – he played his part in United’s comeback and again hinted that Moyes needs to start the 18-year-old or risk seeing his midfield slip into slumber, with an increased reliance on Robin van Persie or Wayne Rooney to conjur something from nothing. Surely we’ll see a Januzaj start at Fulham?
Nobody wants to welcome the Hammers to their backyard…
The 0-0 at the Liberty handed West Ham their fourth clean sheet on the road from five matches – the only goal they’ve conceded away from home has been the rather dubious Robbie Brady spot-kick at Hull City. While there have been seven goals shipped at Upton Park, clearly the West Ham back four continues to offer Fantasy managers value, particularly if we can count on them to offer returns on their travels. The Razvan Rat fans are building, although I’ve an inkling that a first James Tomkins goal is just around the corner – 4.7 anyone?
Pellegrini may not spare Hart this time…
Manuel Pellegrini’s refusal to defend Joe Hart after Chelsea’s calamitous winning goal is almost being seen as the writing on the wall for the City keeper. Predictably the papers are looking to create a story out of nothing but, having said that, the pressure on Pellegrini to address the confidence of his keeper is mounting. Earlier this month we saw the City boss state that he faced a difficult situation with Hart; that his form was a concern and his place in the starting lineup under consideration. Following Sunday’s events, that dilemma will be revisited and the Chilean may well decide that a hand on the shoulder is no longer the option to take – Costel Pantilimon is available at 4.9 in the FPL. Just saying.
